Ilse D’Hollander at The Arts Club

The exhibition (16 September 2019–January 2020) features canvases and works on cardboard by the late Belgian artist, focusing on the rich dialogue between representation and abstraction in her work, and shedding light on the ways in which colour and form are perceived.

During her short life, Belgian artist Ilse D’Hollander (1968–1997) created a highly resonant body of work. Born in Sint-Niklaas, Belgium D’Hollander later moved to the small pastoral town of Paulatem. Both settings became inspirations for her practice. D’Hollander subtly drew upon her experience and perception of place, particularly the Flemish countryside where she spent her last years.

D’Hollander’s works present natural vistas, horizons and landscapes that are at once boundless and intimate. They reveal a command of graphic and painterly touch that captures, holds and averts attention. Her compositions are made up of striking geometric blocks and bands of colour, tempered by strokes of paint from a brush or even the artist’s own hand.

The layered result can be read as a visual interpretation of her thought process. The past decade has brought renewed international recognition for D’Hollander’s extraordinary practice. The estate of Ilse D’Hollander is represented by Victoria Miro London/Venice.

The exhibition is curated by Amelie von Wedel and Pernilla Holmes of Wedel Art. Concurrently on view are works by Etel Adnan.

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Image: Ilse D'Hollander, Untitled, 1996